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A word?

Forgive me for getting my back up a little, but there is something that is bothering me lately. Perhaps I have been living a sheltered little life out here in rural Australia...or maybe it's just that all of a sudden it's cool to be politically incorrect.

When did the word 'retarded' start re-emerging? Did I miss something? Is it really not used now in a derogatory manner?

Didn't think so.

I seem to have been bombarded with it lately. In emails, on Facebook, in the street, amongst people I know...Seriously...are people so blase about they say that they don't even realise what they are saying?

A 'retard' or 'tard' is not a funny or cool way to describe someone. People with disabilities thought they had lost that tag a while ago. Clearly though, people are still using this term in a manner which I am not comfortable with.But it isn't about me.Or is it?

Every time I see it mentioned or have to listen to someone call another person a 'retard' or "gee, that was retarded", I cringe. I feel this little pang of hurt, which becomes anger, and then embarrassment for the person using the term. I wonder if people would ever call Ryley a 'retard'? More to the point, would they dare?

I acknowledge that in many cases, political correctness has gone mad. Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep is something I had a giggle at. However, for many black people, the word 'black' has the same connotations that 'retard' has for people with disabilities.So where do we draw the line?

Personally, I draw the line at referring to people with disabilities as anything less than the beautiful human beings that they are. A person who has a disability is no less of a person than you or I. They simply have different abilities.I detest the use of words like 'retard'.I hate how people are afraid of disability.I am dismayed by people who can't extend their vocabularly and refrain from using people with disabilities as the butt of their jokes.

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Comments

I agree with you Anna and I think you have hit the nail on the head when you say ' people are afraid' of disability. It is ignorance that makes humans behave in such a shameful way. Also, I think people speak without any thought to what they are saying or the impact it might have on others. I also cringe when I hear terms like 'retarded' (and there are many others too).I never know whether to comment on what they have said or feel sorry for them. They clearly don't have the privilege of knowing a person with a disability.

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